Artificial Sweeteners Compared

Artificial sweeteners — also called non-nutritive sweeteners, high-intensity sweeteners, or sugar substitutes — are substances that provide sweetness to food and beverages with significantly fewer or zero calories compared to sucrose (table sugar). They are used as food additives in products ranging from diet soft drinks to sugar-free baked goods, chewing gum, and tabletop sweeteners.

In the European Union, approved sweeteners are listed in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and carry E numbers in the E900–E999 range. In the United States, some sweeteners are approved as food additives under 21 CFR, while others have self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status. Internationally, the JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) has evaluated most major sweeteners and established ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) values.

It is important to note that "sweetener" covers both high-intensity sweeteners (hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, used in tiny amounts) and bulk sweeteners like sorbitol (E420) and xylitol (E967), which are used at amounts comparable to sugar. This guide focuses on the major high-intensity sweeteners that frequently appear in consumer products and food labeling discussions.

Aspartame is one of the most widely used and most studied artificial sweeteners in the world. It is a dipeptide composed of two amino acids — aspartic acid and phenylalanine — joined by a methyl ester bond. When metabolized, aspartame breaks down into these amino acids and methanol, all of which are present in much larger quantities in common foods such as fruit juice and vegetables.

JECFA established an ADI of 0–40 mg/kg body weight per day in 1981, a value that has been upheld through multiple re-evaluations. EFSA completed a comprehensive re-evaluation in 2013 and confirmed that aspartame is safe at current levels of exposure. In July 2023, IARC classified aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B) based on limited evidence — however, JECFA simultaneously re-evaluated the same evidence and concluded that the existing ADI remains appropriate and does not need to be changed. EFSA noted it had no reason to revise its previous conclusions.

Aspartame is not suitable for individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare metabolic disorder that prevents proper processing of phenylalanine. Products containing aspartame are required to carry a warning "Contains a source of phenylalanine" in EU-regulated markets.

Regulatory status: Approved in the EU (E951), USA (21 CFR 172.804), Japan, Canada, and Australia/NZ. Banned in no major food regulatory jurisdiction as of the latest data.

Sucralose is a chlorinated derivative of sucrose (table sugar), produced by selectively replacing three hydroxyl groups with chlorine atoms. Despite being derived from sugar, it is not metabolized in the same way — approximately 85% is not absorbed and passes through the digestive system unchanged, contributing negligible calories.

JECFA evaluated sucralose in 1990 and established an ADI of 0–15 mg/kg bw/day. EFSA re-evaluated sucralose in 2017 and confirmed the existing ADI. The FDA approved sucralose for use in food in 1998, making it one of the newer high-intensity sweeteners on the market.

Sucralose is heat-stable, making it suitable for baking and cooking applications where other sweeteners may break down. It is approved in the EU (E955 — though this slug may vary), USA, Japan, Canada, and Australia/NZ.

Acesulfame potassium (acesulfame-K, or Ace-K) is an organosulfur compound that provides intense sweetness. It is often used in combination with other sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose, as blending sweeteners can improve taste profile and reduce any bitter aftertaste. Acesulfame-K is not metabolized by the body and is excreted unchanged in urine.

JECFA established an ADI of 0–15 mg/kg bw/day. EFSA re-evaluated acesulfame-K in 2000. The FDA approved its use in the USA in 1988. Acesulfame-K is heat-stable and is therefore used in baked goods, cooked foods, and products requiring extended shelf life.

Detailed acesulfame-K profile →

Steviol glycosides are sweet compounds extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana), native to South America. Despite being plant-derived, commercially produced steviol glycosides undergo significant extraction and purification processes. The most commonly used glycosides are stevioside and rebaudioside A (Reb-A).

JECFA evaluated steviol glycosides in 2008 and established an ADI of 0–4 mg/kg bw/day expressed as steviol equivalents. EFSA evaluated them in 2010 and set the same ADI. The FDA has accepted GRAS notices for certain high-purity steviol glycoside preparations. In the EU, they are authorized under Regulation (EU) No 1131/2011 as E960.

Stevia-based sweeteners are often perceived by consumers as more "natural" than synthetic options, though the final product is highly processed. Some consumers report a liquorice-like aftertaste with stevia, which has driven efforts to develop purified forms with improved taste profiles.

Saccharin is one of the oldest artificial sweeteners, discovered in 1879 at Johns Hopkins University. It was the primary sweetener used in diet products during the mid-20th century. Its regulatory history has been complex: in 1977, the FDA proposed banning saccharin after studies showed it caused bladder cancer in male rats at very high doses. However, Congress intervened with a moratorium, allowing continued sale with a warning label.

By 2000, the U.S. National Toxicology Program removed saccharin from its list of anticipated human carcinogens after further research showed the bladder cancer mechanism in rats was specific to rats and not relevant to humans. The FDA removed the warning label requirement in 2001. JECFA and EFSA have both established ADI values for saccharin and consider it safe at approved use levels.

Detailed saccharin profile →

Cyclamate is a prominent example of divergent food additive regulation across countries. It was banned in the United States in 1969 following studies showing bladder cancer in rats. The FDA has not re-approved it despite subsequent research and petitions. In contrast, cyclamate (E952) is approved in the EU, Canada, Australia/NZ, and Japan, with JECFA and EFSA having evaluated the available evidence and established ADI values.

JECFA evaluated cyclamate in 1982 and set an ADI of 0–11 mg/kg bw/day. EFSA concluded in 2000 that cyclamate is not genotoxic and does not pose a cancer risk at typical intake levels. The regulatory divergence between the USA and other regions illustrates how historical data interpretation and different risk assessment frameworks can lead to different outcomes for the same substance.

Detailed cyclamate profile with country-by-country regulatory status →